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From Bench Creek Brewing out of very rural Alberta (Yellowhead Country) near Edson comes their “Drexl Blackstrap Imperial Stout”. The beer pours an opaque black colour with a brown head. The aroma consists of roasted malts, smoke, molasses and anise. The flavour is of roasted malts, smoke, molasses, anise, toffee, sweetness, resin and bitterness. The alcohol content comes in at 11% with an IBU of 80. I have been a fan of Bench Creek Brewing for some time and this beer does not change that opinion at all. This is a well made Imperial Stout.

Commercial Description: Y’know what we got here?Charlie Bronson. Mr. Majestyk.Rich biscuity UK base malt and multiple caramel malts for layered toffee and dark fruit flavours got you thinkin’ it’s pretty… But it’s not as pretty as a variety of roasted malts which provide chocolate and coffee depth. In fact, we’re gonna show you with a little demonstration. Now, see, we’re sittin’ down here, ready to negotiate, and you’ve already given up. It’s still a mystery to you.But we know it’s got generous additions of blackstrap molasses and star anise. All right, peep this: it’s aged on American oak to fully mimic the flavours and aromas of blackstrap rum. Ey’ yo, yo why you trippin’?

From Last Best Brewing & Distilling in Calgary Alberta comes their second ever bottled beer the “A.E. Cross Barley Wine Barrel Aged” the second of their Lineage Series. This is a 2016 Vintage and has been cellared by the brewery itself until 2018. The beer pours a deep orange brown colour with an off white head. For the second release they split the beer into two versions one unoaked and then this one that was barrel aged for 10 Months in Alberta Rye Whiskey Barrels. The aroma consists of mild oak, dark fruits, stone fruit, brown sugar, caramel, toffee and rye. The flavour is of oak, dark fruits, cherry, toffee, caramel, grapefruit rind, honey, resin, rye spice, rye whiskey, bitterness and alcohol. The alcohol content comes in at 11.8% with an IBU of 45. This is a borderline American Barelywine and really enjoyable. I hope they make more of this in the future.

Commercial Description: With our 2nd lineage release, we pay homage to a prairie legend with our riff on a classic style. The Alfred Ernest Goss Barley Wine uses locally sourced barley wheat, and rye as a fitting tribute to the founder of Calgary Brewing & Malting and the embodiment of the Last Best West. We split this release into two: one unoaked and one aged for 10 months in 100% Alberta rye whiskey barrels Layered with subtle, integrated oak and a developing rye spiciness, this beer is characterized by its sweet caramel and barley malt base alcohol warmth, hints of dark fruit and a touch of light malted wheat Serve it at cellar temperature and age for years to come.

From Strange Fellows Brewing in Vancouver comes their fourth of four beer of 2017 in their Fellowship Club the “Mélange à Trois” a barrel aged Brett Bruin. The beer pours a deep reddish brown with a tan head. The aroma consists of brett funk, mild fruit, berries, malt, oak, chocolate and caramel. The flavour is of brett funk, sour, caramel, toffee, chocolate, roasted malts, smoke, oak, leather, earth, bitterness and citrus rind. The alcohol content comes in at 6.5%. Not the standard Bruin but it is a really good brew and I look forward to the 2018 Fellowship.

From Main Street Brewing in Vancouver comes their “Barrel Aged American Style Barley Wine” a Winter 2017 Vintage. The beer pours a very murky brown colour with a white head. The aroma consists of dark fruits, toffee, resin, sweetness and a floral finish. The flavour is of roasted malts, caramel, toffee, chocolate, dark fruits, resin, earth, oak and bitterness. The alcohol content comes in at 10.5% with an IBU of 80. This Barely Wine seemed to be a bit of a hybrid style as the bitterness was to low to be an American Barley Wine. It was not really what I was expecting but I did quite enjoy it none the less.

From Bench Creek Brewing out of very rural Alberta (Yellowhead Country) near Edson comes their “Legend Extra Old Ale”. The beer stated to Enjoy after Dec 24, 2017. The beer pours a reddish orange colour with an off white head. The aroma consists of The aroma consists of dark fruits, toffee, caramel, floral hops and sweetness. The flavour is of dark fruits, tropical fruits, vanilla, candy sugar, toffee, caramel, sweetness, bitterness with some minor alcohol notes. The alcohol content comes in at 11.8% with an IBU of 45. This is a tasty Old Ale and well made. If you can find a bottle of this in Alberta make sure to pick it up!

Commercial Description: It was believed a town like Legend, AB, would be around forever — until its sudden yet inevitable demise early last century. The last grain elevators came down decades later, nearly wiping out any and all remnants of the place. Visitors to the ghost town only rarely ask about the townspeople. Did they die with the town? The truth is lost to time but most choose to believe they packed up and left, attempting to preserve the best traits of the place, to savour the legacy, and moved on to bigger, and dare we say, better things.